Self-care will forever be our favourite hobby but we appreciate that recharging and putting yourself first looks different for everyone. Each week, we'll be asking the celeb lot to share their ideal self-care Sunday routines, the hard-working beauty products they recommend to their friends and which TV show they're currently binging…
This week it's all about Belle Hassanwho is best known for appearing (and of course, slayin') on Love Island season 5. Belle was a make-up artist before she entered the villa and now continues to showcase her artistry on TikTok, whilst working with huge brands including Superdrug and Boux Avenue.
We caught up with Belle to find out her make-up tips, loungewear recommendations, plus how she spends a self-care Sunday...
On self-care
What does the ultimate day of pampering look like for Belle?
"Self-care has really evolved for me in the last few years, mow, it’s definitely doing a lot of manifestations. It might sound silly to some people, but I love sitting down and writing out my goals, having a vision, and being focused. I bought one of those little gratitude books that I fill out and I like to do it on a Sunday to prep me for a Monday. Doing my skincare is also really important during a self-care Sunday. Resetting my skin for Monday morning and getting my skin ready for a whole week of different looks. especially with Halloween coming up, it's important to get the skin good."
On skincare favourites
"I am obsessed with Murad skincare, especially the Murad Clarifying Cleanser, it's a blemish control one and it's incredible. I always get a few spots when I'm a little bit hormonal and it clears the spots up overnight. I use it at night and by the morning they've already halved in size. I recommend it to anyone who's suffering with their skin, it works so fast.
"I'm also loving the new Elemis stuff. They sent me their new Rose Serum and their new cream and I'm obsessed, I can't stop using it. It's the best thing ever. They've got a Pro-Collagen Rose Oil as well and I'm obsessed. I've got all the girls on it. I'm going on a cruise with my friend and she was like, 'You best make sure that is in the case, don't forget it!'"
On make-up ride-or-dies
Belle is a make-up WIZARD, so what are the products she absolutely swears by?
"Oh my god, see now this is really quite difficult for me. I have the most unruly brows you have ever seen in your life. Nothing sets them in place other than the Benefit Clear Brow Gel 24-Hour Setter. It’s indestructible no matter what I’m doing - sweating, crying, screaming, hiking, they are in place!
"There is also a MAC Shine Control Primer and it’s incredible. It actually keeps your make-up in place all day, it’s an absolute game-changer.
www.boots.com
"I think the last product is the KVD Good Apple Serum Foundation, I literally can’t recommend it enough. It’s long-wearing and makes you look incredible. It’s also good for your skin because it’s got serum in it."
On genius make-up tips
"Using a powder puff to set your make-up is just a game changer, I actually can’t do my make-up without one now. They are so incredible and they give you the most flawless finish. I have quite big pores on my T-Zone and I find whenever I set my face with a powder puff, it just blurs everything instantly.
"There’s a pressed powder from HNB Cosmetics and if you put that on top of loose powders once you’ve done baking and everything, oh my god, it’s like a filter on Instagram. It’s incredible."
www.boots.com
Noted. Which powder puffs does Belle swear by or will any do the job?
"Do you know what, any will do the job, but my favourite is one from OPretty. It’s the heart-shaped one and I love it. I find the Trigwell ones a little bit hard to get in my undereye, but I’ve only tried the big ones, I haven’t tried the small one. I do prefer the OPretty ones, but it’s just preference, I suppose."
On positive affirmations
"Every day I wake up and I tell myself positive affirmations. I read it somewhere, I think it was a meme on Instagram and it was like, ‘Why are you so hard on yourself?’ Speak to yourself how you’d speak to your friends. Normally when we speak to ourselves, we’re just like, ‘Just get on with it’. I would never say that to my friend if she was crying or upset. I’d be like, “Babe, it’s okay, you’re so great”.
"I thought, ‘You know what? I’ve got to change the way I speak to myself.’
"I think since doing that, my confidence has never been better. I’ve never felt so good in myself. Now if I’m texting a guy and it doesn’t work out, I’m like, ‘Well it’s his loss, I don’t care, because I’m great!” I literally don’t care. If you don’t want me, I’m really not fussed. It doesn’t take away from my worth, I’m incredible.
"So every day I tell myself how great I am. I look in the mirror and I find three things I love about myself, whether it’s my eyelashes, skin or if I’m having a good hair day today. Always try and find something to be happy about with yourself. I think too often we compare ourselves to other people without appreciating how beautiful we really are."
On life-changing books
"I would say the P Louise Gratitude book. I actually bought it for my mum for Christmas, because she was feeling a bit lost and wanted to start something new. After reading, she was like, ‘Belle, you know what, every time I’m reading this, I can only think of you, I think you should have it.’ So I ended up buying my mum a Christmas present for myself!
"But yeah, I started reading it and it really elevated my mindset and changed it completely. I would recommend that journal to everyone."
plouise.co.uk
On social media boundaries
"When we go out, I know a lot of influencers are constantly on their phones and things like that, with me, I’m like to the girls, ‘Right, let’s get the photos done, let's get a couple of stories of what we’re doing and that’s it, leave it.’ I like to switch off from Instagram and all the stories and stuff because you can get obsessed with looking at what everyone else is doing.
"I always say to people when you’re not in a good place or feeling a bit lost, stop trying to force yourself to post and push through it. For me, everything is on my phone so I’m like, ‘Right, I’m going to put my phone down for two weeks. I’m not working’ I text my manager that I’m not working for two weeks and I need to just find what I’m doing, figure it out and get my inspiration back.
"I think when you’re constantly creating content, whether it’s fashion or make-up, you run out of ideas and you hit a block. I think giving myself time out is a boundary that I’ve had to put in place rather than trying to push through it and end up creating content I’m not happy with and it makes me feel worse. Taking regular breaks is so important."
On great advice
"I got some really good advice recently and it was actually from Joe Garratt, who was on my season of Love Island. He’s literally my bestest friend in the whole world. I was moaning about something because I’m always moaning about something and he was like, ‘You know what, you just don’t trust in the journey enough.’
"I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he was like, ‘Just enjoy it. If it works out, it works out and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Just trust in the journey and trust the process. It’s all going to be alright.’ It was just a reminder that I need to relax and whatever is meant for me, won’t pass me by."
Quickfire round:
What show are you currently watching? I'm going to start Top Boy, I've never seen it and I want to start it.
How do you like your cuppa? I don't drink hot drinks. I drink peach iced tea, that's my go-to Starbucks order.
Favourite face mask? The Nip+Fab Salicylic Fix Clay Mask.
Go-to loungewear? Creo Studios. Oh my god, they're so sick and the bottoms are actually long enough for me.
Go-to takeaway order? It's got to be a Chinese. It's got to be chicken chow mein, salt and pepper ribs and everything to be fair. I do love a bit of curry and I do love a bit of beef mushrooms. I do like special fried rice and I do love a bit of duck pancakes. I'll eat everything!
Favourite candle? One of my friends has a small business called Dillon and I and I love the brand because I love the meaning behind it. Their candles are amazing, they have a really beautiful smell.